New Delhi: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola left the media bewildered on Monday when he held an extraordinary brief pre-match press conference ahead of the Blues’ trip to Fulham. The Spaniard’s presser lasted for just 135 seconds, making it one of the shortest in the club’s recent history.
City are coming off a dramatic 3-2 victory over Leeds United at the Etihad, which ended a run of two consecutive defeats, including a heavy loss to Newcastle and a Champions League setback against Bayer Leverkusen. Phil Foden’s stoppage-time winner rescued the Blues, but Guardiola appeared to have little to say when addressing the press.The session, which began a few minutes ahead of schedule, saw Guardiola answer seven questions in just 70 seconds. Journalists described it as “remarkable” and “bizarre,” with the majority of the time spent on questions rather than his responses.
If anyone missed the Pep Guardiola press conference then I can sum up all two minutes of it for you here.
He’s not spoken to Gigi and Rodri is not ready.
Fair to say Pep was not in a jovial mood today 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/M6ibtg37gb
— LB✌🏽 (@Londonblue_2) December 1, 2025
When pressed about the Leeds win, Guardiola declined to comment on whether it reflected a change in his team’s mentality. On the issue of Gianluigi Donnarumma receiving a fourth yellow card, he remained short and matter-of-fact stating he had not spoken to the goalkeeper about it. When asked about midfielder Rodri, he confirmed that the player was not fit to return against Fulham and may not be available for the upcoming match against Sunderland.
Guardiola on Fulham
The only moment Guardiola expanded slightly was on Fulham and their manager Marco Silva. “Marco has been many years there, and over the years they have always been really tough games,” he said. He praised Fulham’s organisation and warned that the London stadium always poses a challenge for opponents.
Pep 💬 Marco [Silva] has been there for many years and it always has been a really tough game. It’s difficult, the organisation is exceptional and every year with the ball, they’re even better. A tough opponent. I saw the games against Chelsea, Arsenal and Sunderland; it’s always…
— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 1, 2025
Despite the short answers, Guardiola’s approach seemed deliberate with little appetite to dwell on victories, injuries or tactical issues within the team. With two more matches scheduled for this week, Guardiola is expected to face the media again and is likely to maintain his style.
What next for City?
City will now shift their focus to Fulham as they aim to build on the win over Leeds. Guardiola’s press conference may have been short but it offered a glimpse into a manager focused entirely on preparation rather than media attention.